Winter Ballast
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62
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From: Louisville, KY
Winter Ballast
Just curious what the most popular methods are for adding weight over the rear axle during this time of year to gain traction. Myself, I use a system of eight 10 gallon buckets filled with sand (about 70 lbs each for 500+ additional pounds on the rear axle) which I keep pinned between the wheel wells of the bed with a wooden rack built of 2x4 and bolts fastened with large wingnut. This setup allows me to quickly and easily remove the weight and keeps it compact enough to store in a small corner in the garage.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 804
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From: Edmonton, AB
Sounds like your system is pretty good. You will get more effect out of them by moving them back to the tailgate though as opposed to straight over the rear axle. If they are behind the rear axle they will transfer some of the weight off the front to the rear in addition to the weight you added.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62
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From: Louisville, KY
Not a shabby idea. That would make them even easier to remove too. Perhaps I could ditch the wooden rack in favor of a ratcheting cargo bar to hold the buckets in place behind the gate.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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I use those 70lb sand bags. Three is the usual. More for heavier snow or icy weather. I have a frame of 2x4's that keeps them from moving around.
When they become deteriorated I simply open them up and spread them in the garden, yard, or flower beds.
I balance mine a bit differently than duffman. I balance mine largely over the axle, but some forward as well. I find that too little weight up front makes the steering wander a bit.
When they become deteriorated I simply open them up and spread them in the garden, yard, or flower beds.
I balance mine a bit differently than duffman. I balance mine largely over the axle, but some forward as well. I find that too little weight up front makes the steering wander a bit.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62
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From: Louisville, KY
The idea of moving the weight back to the tailgate has been swimming around my head most of the morning. Aside from making it a bit more difficult to get things in and out of the bed, are there any issues with this? I'm thinking that grouping the buckets by the gate and holding them in place with rope/cable attached to the cargo hooks would do the trick.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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Try different things until you find something that works. In an accident, however, I'd think buckets of sand would be a little more ballistic than low-in-the-bed bags. Neither are going to be safer than nothing, though.
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New User
Joined: Jun 2006
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I use four 70 lb bags of "Tube Sand", two behind each wheel well. They stay put by themselves and if you load them with the opening aft, if you ever need sand, it is pointed the right way.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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So far I haven't had to add any weight to the truck. I'm so used to driving around in a 2wd truck, that I haven't had the need for weight yet. And have only used 4wd once so far this season... and that was to have fun in a 4ft snow drift.
Take it easy and have a light foot, you'll do just fine.
Take it easy and have a light foot, you'll do just fine.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,162
Likes: 1
From: Vilonia Arkansas
When I had my 96 2 wheel drive I had five main line RXR ties that I cut to length from the front of the box to the tail gate they wiegh about 300 lbs apiece give or take and I could load anything on top of them .
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,121
Likes: 1
From: Springfield, VA
I usually use 49 50lb bags of a mix of potassium chloride and magnesuim chloride. Of course the only problem with that is by the end of the day, I loose the bags, a few at a time as I put them in the tailgate spreader. But then again, that 8'2" Boss "V" plow on the front helps out a bit too.....
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
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From: Stephensville WI
Originally Posted by mudmaker
on a 2wd f150 if had I used a sheet of 3/4" steel we had out back it was 4x8 and set perfectly in the box. Actually rode quite well.
